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  As concerns about the long-term health of our environment continue to rise, consumers and businesses alike are focusing on ways to promote and practice the intelligent use of energy – and Qwest is actively making choices to lessen its impact on the environment.
At Qwest, corporate sustainability begins with leadership commitment and governance. Our Code of Conduct and corporate polices not only require that we comply with applicable environmental laws, but that we maintain the highest integrity. We strive to implement environmentally friendly projects that are ethically, socially and fiscally responsible as part of the way we do business.
These initiatives are evidence of Qwest's commitment to environmental sustainability:
Since 2007, Qwest’s Environmental Sustainability Council has facilitated collaboration across the company with the goal of identifying and implementing actionable "greening" initiatives.
The council aims to reduce Qwest’s carbon footprint and evaluate the ongoing economic feasibility of our green initiatives. It also guides our vendors to reduce or conserve energy and to utilize more sustainable products.
In 2009, Qwest ranked second by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) among telecommunications companies in the S&P 500 for carbon disclosure leadership. The CDP is an independent, nonprofit organization that aims to create an ongoing relationship and meaningful dialogue between shareholders and corporations based on the implications of climate change. Qwest has submitted its carbon inventory to the CDP for the past four years.
To learn more about what corporations are doing to reduce carbon footprints, the CDP issues an annual questionnaire and then assigns a Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI) rating based on a company’s response.
For more information regarding Qwest’s response to the CDP go to: www.cdproject.net/en-US/Results/Pages/Responses.aspx and type "Qwest."
In addition, Qwest was the first major telecommunications provider to join The Climate Registry. In May 2008, we joined as a "Founding Reporter." The nonprofit Climate Registry establishes consistent standards for reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for organizations throughout North America, ensuring GHG emissions are reported accurately and transparently, and compiled in one place.
Qwest recently partnered with CURRENT Group LLC on a new framework that allows electric utilities to integrate intelligent grid sensing with Qwest’s existing low latency, secure, high capacity DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) network to implement Smart Grids like Excel Energy’s SmartGridCity™ in Boulder, Colorado.
Qwest helps customers go green with products and services that use environmentally friendly architectures such as IP and Ethernet in order to, among other things:
As an active member and contributor to ATIS, Qwest works alongside other industry leaders to identify and promote energy–efficient technologies and equipment.
Qwest also is a member of the ATIS Exploratory Green Group, which is developing recommendations and sharing best management practices for the telecommunications industry in the area of environmental sustainability. The group is looking at ways the telecommunications industry can assist other businesses to reduce their carbon footprints by using videoconferencing, telecommuting, smart buildings and logistics.
Qwest’s waste minimization and recycling program diverts millions of pounds of electronic and communications equipment from landfills each year.
We recycle telecommunications equipment, such as batteries, wood poles, electronic/computer equipment, copper wire, fluorescent lamps and fleet oil/solvents.
Through its recycling program, Qwest reduced total waste by more than 3,000 tons in the last year:
"Go Green for Schools" is an innovative recycling program that enables customers to raise money for public school districts and pre-K through 12th grade educational initiatives by recycling cell phones with Qwest. The program helps keep unused cell phones out of landfills and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2009, the Go Green for Schools program collected almost 8,000 phones, which were recycled with a zero-percent landfill policy.
For more information and to donate your used cell phones, visit: qwest.com/gogreenforschools.
While Qwest’s IT department has a long history of working toward energy savings solutions, the newly established Green IT Program has a number of initiatives under way to reduce energy consumption, save costs and reduce Qwest’s carbon footprint. From decommissioning unused servers and replacing old power hungry Uninterrupted Power Systems (UPS) equipment with
more efficient UPS equipment to implementing hot aisle/cold aisle concepts with new server installations, Qwest’s Green IT Program resulted in an estimated annual energy savings of nearly 7 million kilowatt hours per year (kWh/year), which is equivalent to 565,483 gallons of gasoline.
In recognition for what it is doing to make its data centers greener, Qwest was selected by The Uptime Institute as one of its Global Green 100 companies in 2009. The list highlights the significant energy efficiency achievements of global corporations operating major data centers. It includes exemplary Fortune 500 and InformationWeek 500 organizations that have a demonstrated board-level policy and governance commitment to increasing energy efficiency and reducing the carbon footprint of their enterprise IT and data center operations.
In 2009, Qwest installed energy-saving software on 22,000 of its desktop computers. The energy-saving software allows Qwest
to maximize energy savings by placing machines into lower power states without interfering with end-user productivity, desktop maintenance or upgrades. This project is expected to save an estimated 7.3 million kilowatt hour (kWh) of energy per year.
Employees have told us the environment and sustainability are important to them. Therefore, Qwest has established a "Going Green" internal Web page for employees to contribute suggestions for helping the company go green. Ideas are then evaluated based on feasibility, budget and other important factors.
The Going Green Web page also showcases individual and departmental efforts that make a positive impact on our environment. Plus, there is a "Green Tips Board" to list greening news and ideas employees can use—both at home and at the office.
It is estimated that greenhouse gas emissions from transportation represent 33 percent of total U.S. emissions. In 2009, Qwest became the first company in Colorado to offer the FlexPass program in partnership with the Regional Transportation District in Denver. FlexPass was designed specifically for large companies that make pre-tax spending account options available to their employees. Qwest also offers commuter programs in Seattle, Phoenix and Portland.
Qwest is a member of the EPA’s voluntary SmartWay Transport Shippers program. The SmartWay program recognizes partners that set and achieve goals to reduce GHG emissions in their freight transport operations. The program encourages using SmartWay Partner freight carriers that are improving their own fuel efficiency, which helps reduce potential environmental impacts from freight shipping activities.
Qwest is assessing its overall supply chain impact and has an established a Procurement "Green" team. It is focused on ensuring that requests for proposals (RFPs) and contracts with suppliers address energy efficiency and environmental strategies. Qwest supports suppliers who actively implement procedures to reduce waste and minimize the environmental impact of their products and services.
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